With the Bahujan Samajwadi Party emerging as the clear winner in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday congratulated its party chief Mayawati, who is all set to become the next chief minister.

"The prime minister called Mayawati and greeted her," PM's Media Adviser Sanjaya Baru said.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist also congratulated Mayawati and said it was now clear that the electoral college was in favour of a secular candidate in the upcoming presidential election.

"The electorate in UP has given a resounding defeat to the communal platform led by BJP, despite their prakhar Hindutva campaign and issuing of the infamous CD", CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said.

"Warmly congratulating" Mayawati and BSP, he said the best part of the result was the defeat of BJP, which got much less than it had held in the last assembly or anticipated.

To questions on the presidential election, Yechury said "we hope the BSP will strengthen the secular forces and support a secular candidate in the presidential poll."

Asked about apprehensions that the BSP had the option of joining hands with NDA, he said since the UPA and Left together had an advantage in the presidential poll, "we do not think the BSP would go with the BJP", though a lot would depend on the BSP in terms of vote arithmetic.

Observing that formal talks on the presidential elections would begin in the next few days, the CPI-M leader said informal discussions among all secular parties had already begun. He also did not rule out talks with BSP on the matter.

Regarding his party's stand on the issue, he said, "Our choice will be on the candidate with impeccable secular credentials. We will strive for maximum agreement on the suitable candidate."

With PTI inputs